Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty has disputed a Politico poll that framed crypto legislation support at “only 27%,” arguing the figure represents 67 million American adults who already own digital assets. According to Alderoty, that share equals one of the largest voter groups in the country. He cited the National Cryptocurrency Association’s 2026 report showing one in four adults now own crypto, with 12 million new holders in the past year. Demographic data also reveals rising female ownership. The debate continues as the CLARITY Act faces legislative delays after missing a July 4 signing deadline.
Stuart Alderoty, Chief Legal Officer at Ripple, criticized Politico for framing support for crypto legislation as “only 27%” in a recent poll. He argued that the figure actually represents roughly 67 million American adults who already own digital assets, according to a July 6 opinion piece on RealClearMarkets.
“The framing of ‘only 27 percent’ treats a quarter of the American adult population as a rounding error,” Alderoty wrote. “Sixty-seven million people are not asking Washington to do them a favor. They are asking their government to do its job.”
The 27% figure aligns with the National Cryptocurrency Association’s 2026 State of Crypto Holders Report, which found one in four adults now own crypto. That report also shows 12 million Americans joined the space in the past year, a number equal to the combined populations of New York City and Los Angeles, pushing ownership from one in five to one in four.
Demographic shifts further challenge the idea that crypto supporters are a niche group. According to the industry study, 42% of new holders are women, boosting female ownership by 10% year over year.
The Politico poll itself found that 45% of Americans believe digital currencies are not worth the risk, while 25% consider them worthwhile. Only 9% said they would trust a crypto platform over traditional banks, compared to 47% who trust traditional institutions. Alderoty countered that risk aversion does not equal rejection, noting that “69% of holders say they trust crypto, a higher share than the 65% who say the same of traditional banking.”
Meanwhile, the CLARITY Act missed its July 4 signing target. The Senate Banking Committee approved the measure in a 15-9 vote on May 14, but as previously reported, the bill still requires a full Senate vote and reconciliation with separate legislation from the Senate Agricultural Committee before reaching President Donald Trump’s desk.
